From Nave’s Topical Bible
Abishai
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 15Passages listed
- 3Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
- Son of Zeruiah, David's sister1 Chronicles 2:16
- One of David's chief men2 Samuel 23:18
- Seeks Saul's life1 Samuel 26:6–8
- Pursues and kills Abner2 Samuel 2:242 Samuel 3:30
- Defeats the Edomites1 Chronicles 18:12
- Defeats the Ammonites2 Samuel 10:102 Samuel 10:14
- Seeks the life of Shimei2 Samuel 16:92 Samuel 19:21
- Leads a division of David's army against Absalom2 Samuel 18:22 Samuel 18:5
- Overthrows Sheba2 Samuel 20:1–22
- Saves David from being slain by a Philistine2 Samuel 21:17
- Obtains water from the well of Bethlehem for David1 Chronicles 11:15–20
The passages, in Bible order (15)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 15 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- 1 Samuel 26:6–8
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:6–81 voice
Ahimelech the Hittite - Only mentioned here. Uriah was also a Hittite. Abishai - He was son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, but probably about the same age as David. He because very famous as a warrior 2Sa 23:18, but was implicated with his brother Joab in the murder of Abner in retaliation for the death of their brother Asahel 2Sa 3:30.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 2 Samuel 2:24
But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
- 2 Samuel 3:30
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:301 voice
Righteousness supports the throne and will never shake it. Yet it was only a reprieve that David gave to Joab; on his death-bed he left it to Solomon (who could the better wield the sword of justice because he had no occasion to draw the sword of war) to avenge the blood of Abner. Evil pursues sinners, and will overtake them at last.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- 2 Samuel 10:10
And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.
- 2 Samuel 10:14
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 10:142 voices
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled,.... In whom they put great confidence: then they fled also before Abishai; without engaging at all with him, as it seems: and entered into the city; out of which they came, either Rabbah or Medeba, for their safety: so Joab returned from the children of Ammon; did not stay to lay siege to their city, the season of the year not being proper for it, winter drawing near; see 2Sa 11:1, and came to Jerusalem; in triumph, to report to David the victory he had obtained.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
Joab returned - The great strength of Rabbah made it hopeless to take it by assault, and the Syrians were not sufficiently broken 2Sa 10:15 to make it safe to undertake a regular siege.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 2 Samuel 16:9
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
Commentary on 2 Samuel 16:92 voices
We can show, too, that holy David was like Paul in this same class of virtue. When … Shimei cursed him and charged him with heavy offenses, at the first he was silent and humbled himself, and was silent even about his good deeds, that is, his knowledge of good works. Then he even asked to be cursed; for when he was cursed he hoped to gain divine pity.But see how he stored up humility and justice and prudence so as to merit grace from the Lord!
Ambrose of Milan· On the Duties of the Clergy 1.48.236-38Patristic
This dead dog - See the marginal reference and 2Sa 9:8 note. Go over - The ravine, possibly with a stream of water 2Sa 17:20, which lay between them and Shimei.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 2 Samuel 18:2
He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:21 voice
A third part - This seems to have been a favorite division with the Hebrew commanders (see Jdg 7:16; Jdg 9:43; 1Sa 11:11; 2Ki 11:5-6) and with the Philistines also 1Sa 13:17.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 2 Samuel 18:5
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:51 voice
Must the cause of the quarrel be the motive of mercy? Even in the holiest parents, nature may be guilty of an injurious tenderness, of a bloody indulgence. But was not this done in type of that immeasurable mercy of the true King and Redeemer of Israel, who prayed for his persecutors, for his murderers, Father, forgive them?
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- 2 Samuel 19:21
But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
- 2 Samuel 20:1–22
Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:1–222 voices
Commentary on Chapter XX 1. Happened - His presence was casual in itself, though ordered by God's providence. No part - The tribe of Judah have monopolized the king to themselves, and will not allow us any share in him; let them therefore enjoy him alone, and let us seek out a new king.
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament, 1765Evangelical
The son of Bichri ... - Rather, “a Bichrite,” formed like the names “Ahohite,” “Hachmonite,” etc. 2Sa 23:8-9, and so called from Becher, the son of Benjamin Gen 46:21; 1Ch 7:6-8 Saul was also of this family. It is evident that the transfer of the royalty from their tribe to that of Judah still rankled in the hearts of many Benjamites (2Sa 16:8 note).
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 2 Samuel 21:17
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”
Commentary on 2 Samuel 21:172 voices
That thou quench not the light of Israel - David is here considered as the lamp by which all Israel was guided, and without whom all the nation must be involved in darkness. The lamp is the emblem of direction and support. Light is used in this sense by Homer: - Ουδε τι Πατροκλῳ γενομην φαος, αυδ’ ἑταροισι Τοις αλλοις, οἱ δη πολεες δαμεν Ἑκτορι διῳ. Iliad, lib. xviii. ver. 102. “I have neither been a Light to Patroclus nor to his companions, who have been slain by the noble Hector.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
They had easily persuaded him not to fight against Absalom ( ch. xviii. 3 ), but against the Philistines he would go, till, having had this narrow escape, it was resolved in council, and confirmed with an oath, that the light of Israel (its guide and glory, so David was) should never be put again into such hazard of being blown out.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- 2 Samuel 23:18
Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
- 1 Chronicles 2:16
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 2:161 voice
Sisters - i. e. half-sisters. Abigail and Zeruiah were daughters not of Jesse, but of a certain Nahash, whose widow Jesse took to wife 2Sa 17:25. From the present passage, and from the fact that Abishai joined David as a comrade in arms before Joab 1Sa 26:6, it would seem that, although Joab was pre-eminent among the three 2Sa 2:13, 2Sa 2:16, Abishai was the eldest.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 1 Chronicles 11:15–20
Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 11:15–201 voice
It is probable that, when uttering the wish, David had no recollection of the military posted at Beth-lehem. It is generally taken for granted that those who fought a way to the well of Beth-lehem were the three champions just mentioned [see on 1Ch 11:13]. But this is far from being clear.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
- 1 Chronicles 18:12
Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 18:121 voice
Abishai - slew of the Edomites - This victory is attributed to David, 2Sa 8:13. He sent Abishai against them, and he defeated them: this is with great propriety attributed to David as commander-in-chief; qui facit per alterum, facit per se.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical